Faith Daily | 24 September 2022

PRAYER of the DAY - APBA p583

Loving Father,

whose Son Jesus Christ has taught us

that what we do for the least of our brothers and sisters

we do also for him:

give us the will to be the servant of others

as he was the servant of all,

who gave up his life and died for us,

and yet lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Luke 9: 43b-45

While everyone was amazed at all that he was doing, he said to his disciples, 44‘Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.’ 45But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

GOSPEL REFLECTION: Carol Streatfield

Have you ever not quite heard part of a conversation because you didn’t want to hear it? We have some marvellous avoidance and denial strategies, designed for our protection, that are remarkably effective: not seeing what’s obvious to everyone else; not hearing what is said; mistaking what is happening; looking, walking, away because we can’t deal with what was said or done. How much would the disciples have not wanted to hear/know what Jesus was saying? It was quite impossible!

It’s an indication of how illusory our personal world actually is, past basic events and activities. How good we are at making them fit into our preferred narrative, or explanatory framework, at cutting the cloth to suit ourselves. “I am going to be betrayed.” He can’t possibly have said that! I must have misheard. I’ll just ignore it. Maybe it won’t happen anyway.

FINAL PRAYER Dimitrii of Rostov

Come, my Light, and illumine my darkness.

Come, my Life, and revive me from death.

Come, my Physician, and heal my wounds.

Come, Flame of divine love,

and burn up the thorns of my sins,

kindling my heart with the flame

of thy love.

Come, my King,

sit upon the throne of my heart

and reign there.

For you alone are my King and my Lord.

Amen.